Luggage carrier



March 9 1926. 1,576,104

J. J. FERGUSON LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed July 21, 1924 if u a .2 i? 4 I! a. i?

J- M l I l /1 Y 1/ I /2 /0 A? gwve'ntoz JJZE (7000/7 A Guiana;

Patented Mar. 9, 1926.-

JOHN J. FERGUSON, F COLUMBUS, OHIO.

LUGGAGE CARRIER.

Application filed an 21, 1924. Serial No. 727,286.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Luggage Carri r, of which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in luggage carriers for use in connection with the running board of motor vehicles and has for its principal object to provide a luggage carrier which may be laterally adjusted and secured on the running board for accommodating packages and articles of various sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a luggage carrier of the above mentioned character, which may be readily collapsed when not in use, means being further provided for securing the same in a rigid position on the running board of a motor vehicle, the same being further of such a construction as to enable the parts to be readily adjusted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a luggage carrier of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and furthermore adapted for the purposes for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved luggage carrier.

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof, and

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken approximately on line 33 of Figure 1.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred einbodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a collapsible retaining wall which is preferably of a lazy-tong construc tion and the ends of the wall are connected to suitable brackets 2 in which are swivelly supported the end posts or members 3 and a respectively. The lower ends of each of the end members are secured to a substantially U-shaped clamping member 5, the innor end 6 of each of the end members being secured, to the upper arm of the lJ-shap d member adjacent the free end thereof while" a portion of each of the end members which extends through the bracket 2 has its lower end 7 extending through both of the arms of each U-shaped clamp adjacent the crown portion thereof. This construction is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing.

The clamping members 5 are adapted to extend over the running board of an automobile in the manner well known in the art. The intermediate portion of the collapsible retaining wall 1 has the lower portion thereof provided with a clamp similar to the 7 clamp 5 associated with the lower portions of the end members 3 and 4 respectively andv I the central clamping member is connected to the intermediate portion ofthe retaining wall 1 through the medium of the L- shaped screw 8 which has its threaded end extending through a suitable opening provided in one of the links of the retaining wall and is threaded into a suitable threaded opening provided in the crown portion of the clamp in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The central clamping member'is also adapted for engagement with the running board shown in the dotted lines in the drawing.

For the purpose of adjusting the retaining wall laterally and for further securing the same in a rigid position on the running board, the additional substantially U- shaped clamping member 9 is associated with the outer end or the crown portion of each of the members 5 which engage the running board. Each of the U-shaped clamping members 9 extends over the crown portion of each of the U-shaped members 5, and the crown portion of the U-shaped clamping member 9 is cut away as illustrated at 10'to enable the outer ends of the clamping members 5 to pass therethrough. Carried by the arm 11 of each of the U-shaped clamping members 9 is the threaded tightening member 12, the lower end thereof being disposed laterally to provide a handle portion 13. The arm 14: of each of the U-shaped clamping members 5 which is disposed on the under side of the running board has provided therein a plu rality of spaced openings such as illustrated at 15 and the. purpose thereof is to provide a means for receiving the threaded upper end of the fastening member 12 whereby the atter will r sen ed t ng ge the under side of the running board and hold the clamping members in secure engagement with the running board whereby the luggage carrier is supported on the running board against accidental disengagement therefrom.

By placing the threaded upper end of the fastening member 12 into any of the desired.

openings in each of the clamping members the latter may be adjusted laterally with respect to the running board so that the various widths between the retaining wall 1 and the side of the automobile are prorided for receiving and supporting articles of various width-s so that the retaining wall 1 may be adjusted to accommodate the different sizes of objects or articles carried on the running board and will securely hold the same in position thereon against accidental displace nent therefrom.

The simplicity in which my device is constructed enables the parts to be readily and easily adjusted and will at all times be posi tive and eiiicient in securing the luggage carrier on the running board.

When not in use, the luggage carrier may be collapsed and secured in position on the running board in such a manner as not to interfere with the opening or closing of the doors of the automobile.

lVhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A luggage carrier for the running board of an automobile comprising a pair of end brackets, a vertical retaining wall secured at its respective ends to the brackets, substantially U-shaped clamping members secured to the lower 7OItlOI1S of the end brackets and adapted to extend over the running board, the arms of the U-shaped clamping members disposed on the under side of the running board having spaced openings therein, additional U shaped clamping members associated with the aforemeir tioned clamping members and extending bers, and tightening screws carried by the arms of the additional clamping members disposed below the apertured arms of the first mentioned clamping members and extending through one of the openings therein and engaging the running board for latorally adjusting and securing the carrier.

2, The combination with a luggage carrier for the running board of a motor vehicle, of means "for laterally adjusting and securing the carrier on the running board comprising substantially U-shaped clamping members carried by the luggage carrier and extending over the outer edge of the running board, one oi the arms of said clamping members having spaced openings therein, additional clan'iping members extending over the crown portions of the aforementioned clamping members, said additional clamping members being also substantially U-shaped and having the crown portions thereof slotted for slidably receiving the crown portions of the first mentioned U- shaped clamping members, and tightening screws carried by the additional clamping members and adapted to extend through one of the openings in the first mentioned clamping members and engaging the running board torsecuring the luggage carrier in position thereon. i i i i A combination clamp and bracket structure including a U-shaped member comprising an upper plate, and a lower plate connected by an intermediate portion, a second U-shaped member comprising an upper plate, and a' lower plate connected by an intermediate portion havin a slot for receiving the first mentioned U-shaped member, the upper plate of the secondU-shaped member resting on the upper plate of the first U-shaped member, and means for holding the first U-shaped member against displacement on a support, and holding the. second U-shaped member in diiierent adjusted positions on the first Ushaped member.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

. JOHN J. rnneuson; 

